Yallourn Workers Demand Certainty, Reject Politics
The Mining and Energy Union Victorian District is urging the Victorian State Government and Energy Australia to come together in productive and transparent discussions over the future of Yallourn Power Station and its workforce.
Workers at Yallourn are distressed by the contradictory statements in the media regarding the future of the Station and are demanding certainty regarding the future of their jobs and community from the State Government and Energy Australia.
Andy Smith, President of the MEU Victorian District which represents power station workers at Yallourn and throughout the Latrobe Valley, is calling for any future discussions to be transparent, involve workers, and aim for a just outcome for workers and their community:
“It is unacceptable for the Victorian Government and Energy Australia to be playing games with people’s livelihoods, and with the economic health of the Latrobe Valley” Smith said.
“We are facing an uncertain future, with workers’ livelihoods at stake in a region with no new industry and very little opportunity for transition into comparable roles. Under these difficult circumstances, it is imperative that government and industry deals in fact and acts in consultation with workers – not litigate through the media.”
Yallourn Power Station is scheduled to close in 2028.